News

Agency founder to work on union

THE founder of one of Scotland’s most successful advertising agencies is to
help spearhead the campaign to save the union, write Jason Allardyce and
Marc Horne.

Simon Scott’s anti-independence campaign material for the Labour party bearing
the slogan: “Divorce is an expensive business” was credited as a significant
factor in the SNP’s crushing defeat in the first Scottish parliament
election campaign in 1999.

Scott was responsible for setting up Edinburgh-based agency The Union,
devising eye-catching material in support of a range of campaigns including
the privatisation of ScottishPower.

While Labour’s anti-independence campaign in 1999 was a stunning success,
Scott — who is no longer associated with the agency — is expected to adopt a
more positive approach after research indicated that this would now be a
more effective tactic.

It will emphasise the benefits of the union between Scotland and England, when
the campaign launches later this month.